Rialto was nursed back to health with 24 hour care. (Picture: Seattle Aquarium)

A few weeks ago, a little sea otter pup named Rialto was found stranded on the beach.

Rialto was in critical condition – thin, weak, and in desperate need of care. Otter pups usually stay with their mother until they’re fully grown, so this was pretty unusual. Rialto needed help, and he needed it fast.

Thankfully he was quickly taken to the Seattle Aquarium, who – despite not being an official otter rehabilitation centre – were able to provide treatment to quickly get the otter back to health.

(Picture: Seattle Aquarium)

Staff at the aquarium quickly set to work.

They provided the pup with 24 hour care, keeping him in his own water bed with bags of ice so he could stay cool and feeding him with a bottle.

(Picture: Seattle Aquarium)

Slowly, he started to gain weight.

His lungs cleared.

His pneumonia went away.

(Picture:

The little pup, who’d been taken in with a tiny chance of survival, is now eating solid food, and has moved out of the little dog kennel where he was nursed back to health.

(Picture: Seattle Aquarium)

Soon he’ll move to the Vancouver Aquarium in Canada, where he’ll be able to live happily for the rest of his days.